Tenth Annual Dragon Boat Festival Races Kick Off This Saturday

Over 30 teams will race in the 10th annual Houston Dragon Boat Festival this weekend at Allen’s Landing.

The Dragon Boat races will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at Allen’s Landing in Downtown Houston.

The event features traditional Hong Kong style BuK Dragon Boats, measuring 40 ft. in length and weighing 500 lbs. The dragon boats carry 20 paddlers, one drummer and one steerperson, all working together as a team.

Competitors don’t have to have prior experience to compete in the race; practice sessions are held before the day of the race. The range of the course is 250 – 1000 meters.

The purpose of the annual Dragon Boat Festival and regatta is to promote the tradition and sport of dragon boat racing, sharing this dramatic aspect of Asian culture with the greater Houston community.

The Dragon Boat Festival will showcase the renovations happening along the Buffalo Bayou. It is also a way of encouraging Houstonians to become more physically fit, while enjoying the outdoor opportunities of the city.

Proceeds from the festival and regatta will go towards promotion of dragon boat racing in Texas and charitable activities.